Public Animal No 9 (Live 1972)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the wild vibes of "Public Animal No. 9 (Live 1972)" by Alice Cooper, recorded at the Beat Club in Germany, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this raw, rebellious anthem from the School’s Out album. This track, performed with gritty energy on November 25, 1972, captures the essence of Alice Cooper’s shock rock persona, blending teenage defiance with a darkly humorous take on school life. The song’s lyrics, like “Me and G.B. we ain’t never gonna confess we cheated at the math test,” reference Glen Buxton, the band’s lead guitarist, and reflect the band’s shared history at Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where most members met. Fans on SongMeanings note the song’s driving drumbeat and its thematic connection to the album’s title track, evoking the reckless spirit of youth. A rare glimpse into this performance’s impact comes from a 2018 post by Alice Cooper on X, sharing archival footage from the 1972 Germany tour, highlighting the band’s theatrical chaos that left audiences stunned.

Digging into the song’s context, "Public Animal No. 9" is the seventh track on School’s Out, an album that hit No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 1 in Canada, fueled by its relatable tales of adolescent rebellion. According to a 2025 post on Fridays With Alice, the song paints Alice as a classroom troublemaker destined to become “every parent’s worst nightmare—a lifer in the state penitentiary.” The album’s concept, paired with its iconic desk-shaped cover, resonated globally, though it sparked fear among parents who saw Alice’s long hair and brazen attitude as a threat. Cooper himself reflected on this in a 2005 interview with Andrew Denton, saying, “All those kids turned out to be doctors, lawyers, and politicians; they all ended up being okay. It’s just art, but sometimes art really scares people.” The Beat Club performance, available on YouTube, showcases the band’s raw energy, with Cooper’s snarling vocals and the band’s tight interplay, cementing their reputation as shock rock pioneers.

Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, started his musical journey in Phoenix, Arizona, after moving there as a child. The son of a minister, Furnier formed a band called the Earwigs at age 17 with friends from Cortez High School, including Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway, and Michael Bruce. Initially, they mimed Beatles songs at a talent show, but after winning, they taught themselves instruments from a local pawn shop. Renaming themselves the Spiders, they drew inspiration from bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds, performing with a giant spider web as a backdrop. By 1968, they became the Nazz, then Alice Cooper, a name Furnier adopted to match their bizarre stage antics, chosen for its twisted innocence. Their big break came in 1969 when Frank Zappa signed them to Straight Records after an audition at 7 a.m., impressed by their audacity. Relocating to Detroit in 1970, they found a home among fans of hard rock acts like The Stooges, and their 1971 album Love It to Death, with the hit “I’m Eighteen,” launched them to fame.

Stay connected with Alice Cooper through his official website, where you can find tour dates, music, and merch. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates on his latest shows and reflections on his six-decade career. Fans can dive deeper at SickthingsUK, a comprehensive fan site with news, discographies, and tablatures, or explore Alice Cooper eChive for archival articles and gig histories. Join the Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks and share stories about the Godfather of Shock Rock.